DERBYmanager Billy Davies warned Southampton there would be no complacency from his side after Steve Howard took them to the brink of the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final.

Howard grabbed a double as the Rams took a giant stride towards Wembley with a 2-1 win at St Mary's in the first leg of their semi-final.

Andrew Surman put the Saints into the lead with a stunning goal, but Howard pegged the hosts back before half time with a firm header before firing Derby ahead from the penalty spot.

The Rams will now take a precious lead back to Pride Park on Tuesday night as they attempt to move within 90 minutes of a lucrative return to the Premiership, but Davies knows the job is far from finished.

"We won't be complacent as we know it is only half time.

We came here to put ourselves in contention for the second leg and that's what we've done. We showed great discipline and courage to come back. It's your worst nightmare to go behind early on, but we did and they were two great goals from Steve."

Derby fell behind to a touch of class from young midfielder Surman, who exchanged passes with Marek Saganowski before sending a superb left-footed curler in after seven minutes.

Saganowski rattled the bar and Chris Baird sent a header just wide before Derby dragged themselves level courtesy of Howard's header from Matt Oakley's cross.

Howard then fired the Rams ahead from the spot after Stephen Pearson was felled, before Saganowski thumped another shot against the bar.

Saints boss George Burley faces the prospect of chasing the game at Pride Park without 16-goal striker Kenwyne Jones and teenage talisman Gareth Bale. Jones came off with a groin problem while Bale suffered an ankle injury.